Sleeping in the parking lot Friday night we were continually awoken by a porcupine (tugging on my sleeping bag, gnawing on the out house and later my car), we saw a nice black bear on the way to Hidden Lakes, deer, various birds, gorgeous flowers and enjoyed solitude in what remains probably my favorite Wilderness area.

Thanks, Ben; a very special trip!

Crazy parking lot porcupine; Ben's photo

Continued...Ben's photo

Looking toward Lost Peak

Marshes before Cougar Lake

First Hidden Lakes

One of the cabins near Middle Hidden Lake

Barrow's Goldeneye family in Middle Hidden Lakes

Heading up the Tatoosh Buttes trail

Nearing the top, looking at Tamarack Ridge and Ptarmigan Peak

On the way to Ptarmigan with Lago, Carru, Osceola

South (l) to northwest from the summit of Ptarmigan

Pickets, Baker and Shuksan over the western Pasayten

Descending Ptarmigan with Tamarack Ridge and Tatoosh Buttes

Ptarmigan Lake and the eastern Pasayten

Tamarack Ridge

Looking back at the route up Ptarmigan

From Tamarack Ridge, looking at the route we would take up out of the East Fork Pasayten on Snowslide Creek ridge to Quartz Mountain; Sheep Mountain behind Quartz

Welcome to the East Fork Pasayten River

Standard East Fork Pasayten

XC route up Snowslide Creek ridge; Ben's photo

Earning blowdown merit badges

But eventually you break out; Quartz Mountain and the Boundary Trail ahead

Phlox was everywhere; Ben's photo

Headed to Quartz Lake on the Boundary Trail; day 2 destination Ashnola Mountain at right